Flexible tube.



J. w.;ew1m& J. DAWSON;

FLEXIBLE TUBE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1911.

1,068,386,, Patented July 22, 1913.

E I M6 0 Jmimmym FFIQE,

JOHN W. GWINN AND J GEN DAWSON, OF TURNER, WASHINGTON.

FLEXIBLE TUBE.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN W. GWINN and JOHN DAWSON, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Turner, in the county of Columbia and Stateof Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in FlexibleTubes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in pipe connections.

In carrying out the invention it is our purpose to provide a connectionof this character which will impart flexibility to the pipes composed ofa plurality of sections irrespective of the inflexible nature of thematerial of which the sections of the pipe are composed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple connection forthis purpose which may be easily removed when it is desired todisconnect any of the sections of the pipe.

With the above and other objects in view which will be more apparent asthe nature of the invention is disclosed, the improvement consists inthe novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portionof the tube constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional viewof the same. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of one of the collarsemployed for con necting two of the sections.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates one of the links forming asection of the pipe or tube. Each of the links 1, in plan, is asubstantially S-shaped form and the rounded ends of each of the saidlinks are provided with openings 2. The links 1 are provided adjacenttheir opposite ends with enlargements 3 and the faces of the linksdirectly below the oppositely arranged enlargements are horizontallyflat. The openings 2 pass through the said flattened faces which aredesignated by the numerals 4 and the portion of each of the linksbetween the enlargements are formed with channels 5 which communicatewith the oppositely arranged openings 2. The links are provided eachwith a seat 6 which is arranged upon the upper wall provided with theopening 2, the said seat being adapted for the reception of the offsetflange 7 provided upon a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. March 1, 1911.

. the spring.

Patented July 22, 1913.

Serial No. 611,613.

bushing 8. The bushing has its lower extremity threaded and the same isadapted to engage threads provided upon the wall of the opening 2 of thecoacting link 1. This wall, designated by the numeral 9, is alsoprovided with a spring stop 10, and the rear extremity of the bushing 8is formed with teeth 11 which are adapted to contact with By thisarrangement it will be noted that the-coacting links 1 may be free torotate with the bushing 8 without allowing the said bushing to becomedisconnected from either of the links. The offset flange 7 of thebushing 8 is provided with an annular depression 12 and the saiddepression is adapted for the reception of the split resilient springmember 13. This spring member serves as a gasket and is adapted toengage the annular wall of the seat 6, and by this arrangement it willbe noted that the connecting links are rendered perfectly airtight whileat the same time they are free to revolve one upon the other.

The numerals 14 designate the caps for closing the openings 2. The saidcaps are each formed with a reduced threaded portion 15, and the saidthreads are adapted to engage with similar threads 16 formed upon thewalls provided by the openings 2 adjacent the portions of the linksengaged by the bushings 8. It will be noted that in order to separateany of the links it is merely necessary to remove the cap 1& when thespring 10 engaging the teeth of the bushing may be forced out ofengagement therewith and the collar readily removed.

The numerals 17 designate the end sections of the device. These ends areof a formation approximately agreeing with onehalf of each of the links1, the said ends having each a flattened face 18 formed with a bore oropening 19, the same being threaded and adapted for the reception of oneof the bushings 8. The bore or opening 19 is further provided with aspring 20, the latter adapted to engage with the teeth of the saidbushing 8. The spring 20 comprises a flat pivoted member, and isprovided with a stop for limiting the downward movement thereof when thetooth of the spring is in engaging position. as will presently be setforth. The end 17 has its lower face closed through the medium of a cap21 which is similar to the caps employed in connection with the links 1and the said end has its enlarged portion 22 provided with a suit ableopening which communicates with the opening 19 thereof. This ballopening 22 is preferably threaded and is adapted for the reception of anozzle or the like whereby the fluid passing through the tube may besprayed.

The stops for the spring members are indicated by the numerals 20 (seeFig. 3). The stops are positioned approximately centrally of the springsand are of course, adapted to limit the downward movement of the saidsprings. The springs, it will be noted, by reference to Fig. 3 havetheir ends upset or curved to provide engaging lips 20 and the stops areadapted to force the said lips into engagement with the teeth of thebushing when the bushing is positioned within the tube and the saidstops are so arranged with relation to the springs that itwill requirethe bending of the lips of the said springs before the springs can bedisengaged from the teeth of the bushing.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the simplicity of the device as well as the advantages thereofwill, it is thought, be apparent to those skilled in the art to whichthe invention appertains and it is to be understood that while We haveillustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the improvement,changes in the minor cletails of construction may be made if desired.

Having thus fully described the invention, whatwe claim as new, is z- Ina flexible tube, 8-shaped links each having its opposite faces adjacentits ends depressed to provide bearing faces for a co-acting link, eachend of the link being provided with a plurality of openings, removableclosures for the openings in the faces opposite the bearing faces of thelink, a flanged bushing arranged within one of the other openings andextending beyond the adjacent bearing face, said bushing having athreaded end adapted to engage the threads in a co-acting link, saidbushing having one edge provided with teeth the opening in the otherbearing face of the link being threaded and being provided with a springstop, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN \V. GlVINN. JOHN DAl/VSON. Witnesses:

E. G. GowING, LEON B. KENWORTHY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

